MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE
AND EFFICIENCY
Lesson 6
Mechanical Advantage and
Efficiency
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Simple machines allow us to move objects with less
effort force then the load force due to force
advantage.
The force advantage can be found by dividing the
load force by the effort force,
FL /FE
Example:
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The force advantage = FL/FE
= 36 N / 12 N = 3.
This means that load force is 3 times greater than
the effort force.
If we rearrange the equation of the lever we have
FE d E = FL d L
Effort force 12
N
Load force
36 N

This gives us two ratios: the force ratio and the
distance ratio. In a machine in static equilibrium or
in an ideal perfect machine, the ratios are the same.
Although, since most machines have friction they are
not ideal.
Actual mechanical advantage (AMA)

The ratio of the load force to effort force for
a machine
Ideal mechanical advantage (IMA)
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The ratio of the effort arm (or effort
distance) to the load arm (or load distance)
for a machine.
The units cancel in both ratios, so both AMA and
IMA have no units.

In the fixed pulley diagram seen to below, the IMA
is seen in the top right corner. As each pulley is
added the IMA ratio increases by one
Example problem 1:
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In an acrobatic demonstration, one
person jumps onto the end of a plank
(lever). This creates a large effort force
of magnitude 9.2 x 102 N at the end
of the board at a distance of 1.7 m
from the fulcrum. A smaller person (a
load force of 4.6 x 102 N located 3.1
m away from the fulcrum) moves a
larger distance and high enough to
perform acrobatic moves. Calculate
(a) the AMA of the board and
(b) the IMA of the board.
(a)
FE = 9.2 x 102 N
2
 FL = 4.6 x 10 N
 AMA =?
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AMA = 0.50
The AMA of the board is 0.50
(b)
dE = 1.7 m
 dL = 3.1 m
 IMA =?
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IMA = 0.55
The IMA of the board is 0.55

AMA
The AMA of a first class lever system can be
greater than 1, less than 1 or equal to one
depending on the situation.
Load Force
Load Distance
Load force = effort Load distance and
force
effort distance are
approximately
equal
Example
AMA
Load Force
Load Distance Example
Larger load
Smaller load
force than effort distance than
force
effort distance
Effort force 12
N
Load force
36 N
AMA
Load Force
Load Distance Example
Smaller load
Larger load
force than effort distance than
force
effort distance
Effort force
36 N
Load force
12 N
Efficiency of Machines
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In many situations, friction is undesirable; reducing
this friction can improve a machines efficiency.
Percent Efficiency – the ratio of the AMA to the
IMA of a machine, expressed as a percentage.
Machines with large amounts of friction will have a
low percent efficiency.
Example problem 2:
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A 14 N cart is pulled 1.2 m up a ramp with an
effort force of magnitude 5.0 N parallel to the
ramp, raising the cart 0.40 m above its initial level.
Calculate
(a) the IMA,
(b) the AMA,
(c) the percent efficiency.
(a)
dE = 1.2 m
 dL = 0.40 m
 IMA =?
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IMA = 3.0
The IMA of the ramp is 3.0
(b)
FE = 5.0 N
 FL = 14 N
 AMA =?
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AMA = 2.8
 The AMA of the ramp is 2.8
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Use the calculations from (a) and (b)
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= 93 % efficiency
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The percent efficiency of the ramp is 93%
Questions: hand in
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Calculate the AMA in each of the following
cases: T (2) (a) 1.9 (b) 5.2
 In
a pulley system, an effort force of magnitude 17
N raises a load force of magnitude 32N.
 To turn a truck’s steering wheel, an effort force of
magnitude 2.9 N on the wheel creates a load force
on the steering column of magnitude 15 N.

Calculate the IMA in each of the cases: T (2)
(a) 3.7 (b) 1.0
 Assume
that in the load force in a first class lever is
0.35 m and the effort arm is 1.3 m.
 In raising a flag 6.2 m up a pole, the effort force is
moved 6.2 m downward.

Explain why the AMA of a machine is
generally less than its IMA. C (1)

Calculate the percent efficiency in each of the
following. T (2) (a) 86% (b) 86%
 The
distance ratio of a lever is 3.6 and the force ratio
is 3.1
 The AMA of a wheel and axel is 6.0 and the IMA is
7.0.

Assume that you are attempting to determine the
efficiency of a ramp that is used to raise a box.
You investigate by pushing the box up the ramp.
What could you do to improve the ramps
efficiency? C (2)